LOCATION CLARKSLODGE CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, isotic, frigid Ultic Haploxeralfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Clarkslodge coarse sandy loam, on a southwest facing 20 percent slope under a cover of Mixed Coniferous Forest at an elevation of 6,160 feet (1,877.6 meters). When described the soil was moist throughout. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted)
Oi--0 to 0 inches, (0 to 1 centimeters); slightly decomposed plant material; 2 percent subangular very strongly cemented granitoid and/or metamorphic rock fragments 2 to 75 millimeters in size. (0 to 1 inch) [0 to 3 centimeters] thick)
Oe--0 to 1 inch, (1 to 2 centimeters); moderately decomposed plant material; 2 percent subangular very strongly cemented granitoid and/or metamorphic rock fragments 2 to 75 millimeters in size. (0 to 1 inch [0 to 3 centimeters] thick)
Oa--1 to 1 inch, (2 to 3 centimeters); highly decomposed plant material; 2 percent subangular very strongly cemented granitoid and/or metamorphic rock fragments 2 to 75 millimeters in size. (0 to 0.5 inches) [0 to 1 centimeter] thick)
A--1 to 3 inches, (3 to 8 centimeters); brown (10YR 4/3) coarse sandy loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; strong very coarse granular, moderate coarse granular, and weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, non-sticky, non-plastic; common fine and very fine roots; 13 percent subangular very strongly cemented granitoid and/or metamorphic rock fragments 2 to 75 millimeters in size; neutral (pH 7.1); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 6 inches [5 to 15 centimeters] thick) NSSL Lab sample # 98P01167*
Bw--3 to 6 inches, (8 to 15 centimeters); brown (10YR 4/3) coarse sandy loam, very dark brown (7.5YR 2/2) moist weak coarse, very fine and fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky, non-plastic; common fine and many very fine roots; 14 percent subangular very strongly cemented granitoid and/or metamorphic rock fragments 2 to 75 millimeters in size; neutral (pH 7.0); distinct wavy boundary. (2 to 4 inches [5 to 10 centimeters] thick) NSSLLab sample # 98P01168*
Bt1--6 to 12 inches, (15 to 31 centimeters); brown (7.5YR 5/4) coarse sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/3) moist moderate medium and weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky, non-plastic; common fine, medium, very coarse and many very fine roots; 7 percent subangular very strongly cemented granitoid and/or metamorphic rock fragments 2 to 75 millimeters in size; slightly acid (pH 6.4); gradual wavy boundary. (4 to 16 inches [10 to 40 centimeters] thick) NSSL Lab sample # 98P01169*
Bt2--12 to 27 inches, (31 to 69 centimeters); brown (7.5YR 5/4) coarse sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky and weak fine subangular blocky structure; common fine, medium, coarse and very fine roots; 13 percent subangular very strongly cemented granitoid and/or metamorphic rock fragments 2 to 75 millimeters in size; slightly acid (pH 6.2); gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 16 inches [15 to 40 centimeters] thick) NSSL Lab sample # 98P01170*
Bt3--27 to 35 inches, (69 to 89 centimeters); reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) gravelly sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate fine and weak very fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky, non-plastic; few fine, common medium, and few very fine roots; 17 percent subangular very strongly cemented granitoid and/or metamorphic rock fragments 2 to 75 millimeters in size; slightly acid (pH 6.3); gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 17 inches) [15 to 45 centimeters] thick) NSSL Lab sample # 98P01171*
C--35 to 60 inches, (89 to 152 centimeters); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) gravelly sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; massive; moderately hard, friable, slightly sticky, non-plastic; few coarse and very fine roots; 5 percent subangular very strongly cemented granitoid and/or metamorphic rock fragments 75 to 250 millimeters in size and 13 percent subangular very strongly cemented granitoid and/or metamorphic rock fragments 2 to 75 millimeters in size; slightly acid (pH 6.2). NSSL Lab sample # 98P01172*
TYPE LOCATION: Mariposa County, California; inside Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, approximately 1,000 feet (304.8 meters) west of the Clothespin Tree and 250 feet (76.2 meters) south of the Mariposa Grove Road in Yosemite National Park; Public Land Survey System with sections unavailable, T. 5 S., R. 22 E., Mount Diablo Base and Meridian; Latitude 37 degrees, 30 minutes, 38.9 seconds north and Longitude 119 degrees, 36 minutes, 21.8 seconds west; USGS Mariposa Grove, California, Quadrangle, NAD83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is less than 46 degrees F (8.0 degrees C). The particle size control section has 8 to 27 percent clay and 35 to 75 percent sand. Rock fragment content is 0 to 65 percent, by volume, but the particle-size control section, by weighted average has less than 35 percent rock fragments. Some pedons do not have one or more O horizons. The content of surface rock fragments is 0 to 10 percent. Clarkslodge soils have an argillic horizon with base saturation (by sum of cations) of less than 75 percent.
A horizon
Hue: 10YR (dry and moist)
Value: 4 to 6 (dry) and 2 or 3 (moist)
Chroma: 2 to 4 (dry) and 1 to 3 (moist)
Texture of the fine earth fraction: loamy sand, coarse sandy loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam
Clay content: 4 to 18 percent
Rock fragment content: 0 to 20 percent
Organic matter content: 5 to 35 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral
Bw horizon
Hue: 10YR (dry and moist)
Value: 4 to 6 (dry) and 2 to 4 (moist)
Chroma: 3 to 6 (dry) and 3 or 4 (moist)
Texture of the fine earth fraction: loamy sand, coarse sandy loam, or sandy loam
Clay content: 4 to 18 percent
Rock fragment content: 10 to 20 percent
Organic matter content: 2 to 5 percent
Reaction: slightly acid or neutral
Other characteristics: some pedons do not have a Bw horizon
Bt horizon
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR (dry and moist)
Value: 4 to 7 (dry) and 3 to 6 (moist)
Chroma: 3 to 6 (dry) and 2 to 6 (moist)
Texture of the fine earth fraction: coarse sandy loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam
Clay content: 5 to 27 percent
Rock fragment content: 5 to 65 percent
Organic matter content: 0.2 to 5 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to slightly acid
Other characteristics: some pedons have a BC horizon
C horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y (dry and moist)
Value: 6 to 8 (dry) and 5 or 6 (moist)
Chroma: 3 to 6 (dry and moist)
Texture of the fine earth fraction: sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or loam
Clay content: 8 to 27 percent
Rock fragment content: 25 to 45 percent
Organic matter content: 0.1 to 0.75 percent
Reaction: moderately acid or slightly acid
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Zephyrcove soils. Zephyrcove soils are deep.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Clarkslodge soils are on ancient landslides, moraines, and mountain slopes. Slope is 0 to 45 percent. Elevation is 4,682 to 7,032 feet (1,427.1 to 2,143.3 meters).These soils formed in colluvium and/or residuum from granitoid and metamorphic rock. The mean annual precipitation is 35 to 45 inches (889 to 1,143 millimeters). Mean annual temperature is 42 to 52 degrees F (5.6 to 11.1 degrees C).The frost-free period is 20 to 60 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Nevadafalls, Waterwheel, and Craneflat soils. Nevadafalls soils do not have an argillic horizon. Waterwheel soils have a sandy-skeletal particle-size class and do not have an argillic horizon. Craneflat soils have a sandy-skeletal particle-size class and do not have an argillic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; low to high runoff; saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high to very high.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for watershed and recreation in Yosemite National Park. The Vegetation is Giant Sequoia, white fir, mixed coniferous trees, and chaparral.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: These soils are in the Sierra Nevada in and near Yosemite National Park. The soils of this series are of small extent. MLRA 22A.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Yosemite National Park, California, 2006.
REMARKS: Isotic mineralogy class based on lab data. Clarkslodge soils have an argillic horizon with base saturation (by sum of cations) of less than 75 percent. The vegetation according to Preliminary Description of Terrestrial Natural Community of California, Robert F. Holland and Fish and Game, State of California, 1986 is Big Trees Forest (84250), White Fir Mixed Coniferous Forest (84232), Sierra Mixed Coniferous Forest )84230), and Montane Chaparral (37500).
ADDITIONAL DATA: NSSL lab data pedon number 98O0134 (Pedon ID: 97CA043002) for this Clarkslodge series typical profile and 98P0192 (Pedon ID: 97CA043010) are available from the National Soil Survey Laboratory at the national Soil Survey Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.